Titchwell

Venue information

Titchwell Marsh is situated on the north Norfolk coast and is one of the UK's most famous birdwatching reserves. The walk from the visitor centre to the beach takes you past reed beds and shallow lagoons. A series of observation hides provide shelter and allow you to enjoy close views of a wide variety of wetland birds. Spring and autumn migration periods are particularly good for sightings. In summer, you can see (but not really photograph) marsh harriers over the reed beds and good numbers of avocets on the lagoons. You might also see a bittern but, again, seeing one and photographing one are not always the same thing. In winter, waterfowl, including wigeons and brent geese, arrive in large numbers. This is also a good time to be down on the beach, as flocks of scoters and grebes and divers are present offshore – you’ll need a long telephoto lens.

Venue verdict: A popular site for birds but as with many RSPB reserves, the opportunities for photography are fewer. Worth a visit but expect to use a long telephoto lens for any chance of frame filling images.

Ratings: 3